Cistern-cleaner



(No Model.)

J. H. BREESE.

GISTBRN CLEANER.

N0. 382,864. Patented May 15, 1888u WITN SES N PETERS, Plwwumogmphpr,wnshingwn. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. BREESE, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

CISTERN CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 382,864, dated May 15,18818,

Application tiled December 28, 1887. Serial No. 250,255. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN H. BREESE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Minne apolis, in the county of Hennepin and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cistern-Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a portable device for taking up the sedimentand contaminated water in cisterns or tanks without removing the wholecontents thereof.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character ofgreat simplicity and economy of construction, free from movable parts ormechanism liable to get out of order,

and in accord with scientific principles.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a central vertical section ofthis improved cisterncleaner in position at the bottom of a tank orcistern, ready to receive the sediment and dirty water therefrom. Fig. 2is a similar view, the dirty water and sediment being represented asiiowing into the cleaner. Fig. 3 is an enlarged central vertical sectionof thisim proved cisternfclean'er.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in thedifferent gures.

The hollow body 10 of this improved cisterncleaner is composed of anysuitable material in any desired form, but is preferably constructed inthe form of an ordinary vertical dasherchurn or truncated cone, and insuch case the body is surrounded by hoops 11. This body is provided witha iixed bottom, 12, preferably located a little above the lower edge ofthe body. Short legs 13, projecting downward from the lower edge of thebody, serve to elevate it slightly above the bottom of the cistern ortank into which it may be placed to permit the water to ilow under saidbottom. The bottom 12 is provided with a central aperture, and atube,14, xed to said bottom, extends through said aperture upward into thebody of the cleaner and terminates below the top thereof. This tube ispreferably provided with aiiange,15, through which screws 16 are passedfor attaching it to the bottom 12. A supplemental sliding tube, 17, istelescoped over the tube 14 to render the latter extensible.

The top of the body 10 is closed by a removable cover, 18, which issecured to the body by suitable hasps or fastening devices, 19. The

'joint between the cover and the body is preferably provided with apacking-ring, 20, to render the joint air-tight. The cover 1S isprovided with a central hole, 21, and opposite said hole with a socket,22, for receiving a tubular handle, 28. The socket and handle are shownas screw-threaded. This tubular handle may be extensible, if desired, asshown in Fig. 1, and is provided at or near its upper end with a closingdevice, 24, which may be in. the form of a detachable plug, a turningplug, the hand of the operator, or in other equivalent form. The socket22 may be castintegral with a disk or collar, 25, and a portion of the.fastening devices may be also formed integral with said disk, the diskbeing attached by nails or screws to the cover 18. l

The operation of this improved device is as follows: The plug orstop-cock in the handle being closed, the body of the cleaner is lowaered or pushed down through the body of water or other liquid in thecistern or tank to be cleaned to the bottom thereof, as illustrated inFig. 1, being held in vertical position while being submerged. The bodybeing iilled with air, for which there is no escape during the sinking,no water can enter. As soon as the device is in position the operatoropens the handle or removes the plug therefrom,whereby the air withinthe body is free to escape, and the weight of water in the tank causeswater to rush rapidly through the interior tube into the annular spacewithin the body surrounding said tube, from which the air is driven.This rush of water carries with it the sediment beneath and surroundingthe body and lodges it in the interior thereof. The operator then liftsthe body out of the cistern, takes off the cover, and pours out theiilthy contents. i This operation is repeated when the area of thecistern or tank to be cleaned is such as to require a repetition..

The object of the telescopic tube is to enable the interior tube to beadjusted to suit the height of water in the tank. When the water is notvery deep, only a short tube can be emthe tube is elongated to a pointnear the top of the body, so that a larger quantity of Water andsediment can be removed at one operatiom ployed; but when the water issufficiently deep- The advantages of this improved cisterncleaner arethat the air is conducted through the tube and discharged above thelevelof the water, whereby the water is not riled by the escape of the air;that the body has a xed tight bottom which does not permit the filthycontents of the cleaner to escape into and contaminate the body of waterin the cistern when the cleaner islifted out; that there are no valvesin the body of the cleaner liable to become clogged by dead rats orlarge objects which may be found at the bottom of the cistern, and lnovalve-hinges to get out of order. On the contrary, thetube is alwaysopen for the free entrance of the dirty water, sedimentand other refuseas soon as the air is permitted to escape from the interior of the body.

I claim as my invention l. Thecombination of a hollow body provided withabottom having an aperture, a tube open at both ends and extendingupward from said aperture within said body and terminat ing below thetop thereof, and a tubular handle connected to the top of said body,substantially as described.

2. The combination of a hollow body provided with a bottom having anaperture, an extensible tube open at both ends and extending upward fromsaid aperture within said body and terminating below the top thereof,

and a tubular handle connected to the top of said body, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination of a hollow body provided with a bottom having anaperture, a tube open at both ends and extending upward from saidaperture within said body and terminating below the top thereof, atubular handle connected to the top of said body, and a closingdevicefor said handle, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a hollow body provided with a bottom having anaperture, an extensible tube open at both ends and extending upward fromsaid aperture within said body and terminating` below' the top thereof,a tubular handle connected to the top of said body, and a closingplugfor said handle, sub stantially as described.

5. The combination of a hollow body provided with a bottom having anaperture, a tube open at both ends and extending upward from saidaperture within said body and terminating below the top thereof, adetachable cover for said body, a hollow handle secured to said cover,and a closingplug for said handle, substantially as described.

JOHN H. BREESE. Witnesses:

ROBERT CHRIsTENsEN, CARL F. J. GOEBEL.

